San Antonio Spurs Rumors: With Tim Duncan Considering Retirement, Kevin Durant Could Be A Big Offseason Target

The San Antonio Spurs could be shifting from one era to the next, with lingering questions about Tim Duncan’s possible retirement merging with rumors that the team will be making a hard pitch for free agent Kevin Durant this offseason.

The wounds were still fresh for the Spurs on Thursday night after they suffered a 113-99 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder and elimination from the playoffs, but already questions were arising about the future of both Duncan and teammate Manu Ginobili. Both have considered retirement in the past few seasons, and on Thursday night they again faced questions about whether this is the end of the line.

Duncan wasn’t ready to make any decision just yet.

“I’ll get to that after I get out of here and figure out life,” Duncan told reporters (via ESPN). “That’s it.”

Ginobili, likewise, said he would take his time before making any decision. The 38-year-old Ginobili said he is proud of playing with such a strong core of players for so long and is excited for the team’s future, but didn’t give any indication whether he would retire or keep playing.

“If there’s a reason why you always want to come back and keep being part of this, [it’s] because of the amazing chemistry, the good times and the good people that you play with and spend time with. It’s not always about winning a game or winning a championship. But you learn from losses, and it’s important to enjoy every day. Being a part of this team, I’m very proud of it, even if sometimes it doesn’t go our way.”

Duncan and Ginobili each have player options for the upcoming season, with Duncan’s deal worth $6.4 million and Ginobili’s at $2.9 million, ESPN reported.

While questions about retirement for Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili linger, the San Antonio Spurs are rumored to already be planning for the team’s long-term future. Reports indicate that they are interested in making a run at Kevin Durant this summer if he opts out of his contract.

ESPN’s Marc Stein reported that the Spurs are one of the teams at the forefront of the Durant sweepstakes, and will be making a pitch for him to form the core of a Western Conference powerhouse along with Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge.

The Spurs may have other plans as well, with reports that they will target Mike Conley along with Kevin Durant.

@ChrisVernonShow @Jon_Roser David Thorpe thinks Conley and Marc could be Spurs players next year https://t.co/QZiJwOzHLw

— Matthew Dixon (@MADixon90) May 13, 2016

Spurs will reportedly “court" PG Mike Conley this summer in addition to Kevin Durant https://t.co/DZdiioUl4j pic.twitter.com/jzXRmGQuOc

— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) May 13, 2016

But, Thursday’s win for the Oklahoma City Thunder could render all the rumors regarding Kevin Durant moot. The Thunder have long been seen as the front-runner for Durant, as they can offer him the biggest contract, and Durant has often said that he is most concerned about winning a championship. By defeating the 67-win Spurs to advance to the Western Conference Finals, the Thunder may have shown that they are the team with the best chance of delivering that to Durant.

Forbes writer Kevin Badenhausen noted that Kevin Durant has a number of options, but it’s hard to make a better case than the Thunder right now.

“The options are almost unlimited with the most common speculation surrounding a return to his hometown (Washington), starring in a big market (Los Angeles), escaping the brutal Western Conference for an up-and-coming team (Boston) or joining a superteam in the chase for a ring (Golden State).

“But last night the Thunder made their greatest case for why KD should and will be back in Oklahoma City next season. The Thunder blitzed the San Antonio Spurs with a 45-15 run in the first half of Game 6 of the Western Conference.”

If the rumors regarding the San Antonio Spurs are true, they will likely face some fierce competition for Kevin Durant. As Badenhausen implied, there are several other teams willing to offer a max contract to the star forward, meaning his price tag will be very high.

[Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images]